Page 52 of A Cozy Christmas Blizzard
Zoe—and she felt sure itwasZoe—glared up at her. “I’m hungrynow. I want to eatnow.” She punctuated her demand by stamping her foot. Her twin joined in, shouting that she, too, was hungry.
“I want dinnernow,” Zara insisted.
Wynn smiled knowingly. “Children shouldn’t be forced to eat on a schedule. If they’re hungry, we should feed them no matter what the clock says.”
Until then, the girls had barely acknowledged Wynn. All of a sudden, he was their best friend. Both beamed brilliant smiles in his direction, then marched over and stood next to him, as though aligning themselves with his theories.
“What would you like for dinner?” he asked, squatting down so he was at eye level with them.
“Hot dogs,” Zoe said, and Zara agreed. The two Yorkies, Zero and Zorro, seemed to approve, because they barked loudly and then scampered into the kitchen.
“I’ll check the refrigerator,” K.O. told him. Not long ago, Zelda hadn’t allowed her daughters anywhere near hot dogs. She considered them unhealthy, low-quality fare that was full of nitrates and other preservatives. But nothing was off limits since Zelda had readThe Free Childand become a convert.
“I’ll help you look,” Zara volunteered and tearing into the kitchen, threw open the refrigerator door and peered inside.
Not wanting to be left out, Zoe dragged over a kitchen chair and climbed on top. She yanked open the freezer and started tossing frozen food onto the floor. Zero and Zorro scrambled to get out of the way of flying frozen peas and fish.
“There aren’t any hot dogs,” K.O. said after a few minutes. “Let’s choose something else.” After all, it was only four o’clock and she was afraid that if the girls ate too early, they’d be hungry again later in the evening.
“Iwanta hot dog,” Zara shouted.
“Me, too,” Zoe chimed in, as though eating wieners was a matter of eternal significance.
Wynn stood in the kitchen doorway. “I can run to the store.”
K.O. couldn’t believe her ears. She hated to see him cater to the whims of Zoe and Zara, but far be it from her to object. If he was willing to go to those lengths to get the twins the meal they wanted, she’d let him do it.
“Isn’t that nice of Dr. Jeffries?” K.O. asked her nieces.
Both girls ignored her and Wynn.
K.O. followed him into the other room, where Wynn retrieved his jacket from the hall closet. “I’ll be back soon,” he said.
“I’ll put together a salad and—”
“Let the girls decide if they want a salad,” Wynn interrupted. “Given the option, children will choose a well-balanced diet on their own. We as adults shouldn’t be making these decisions for them.”
K.O. had broken down and bought a copy ofThe Free Childat a small bookstore that had recently opened on Blossom Street. She’d skimmed it last night, so she knew this advice was in the book, stated in exactly those words. She might not approve, but for tonight she was determined to follow his lead. So she kept her mouth shut. Not that it was easy.
While the girls were occupied, he planted a gentle kiss on her lips, smiled and then was out the door.
It was now three days since they’d been able to spend time together. With that one short kiss, a lovely warmth spread through her. She closed the door after him and was leaning against it when she noticed that the twins had turned to stare at her. “While we’re waiting for Wynn to get back, would you like me to read you a story?” she asked. The salad discussion could wait.
The girls readily agreed, and the three of them settled onthe sofa. She was only a few pages into the book when both Zoe and Zara slumped over, asleep. Before Zelda left, she’d said the twins had been awake since five that morning, excited about Katherine’s visit. Apparently they no longer took naps. This was something else Wynn had advised. Children would sleep when they needed to, according to him. Regimented naptimes stifled children’s ability to understand their internal clocks. Well, Zoe’s and Zara’s clocks had obviously wound down—and K.O. was grateful.
The quiet was so blissful that she leaned her head back and rested her own eyes. The tranquility didn’t last long, however. In less than fifteen minutes, Wynn was back from the store, carrying a plastic bag with wieners and fresh buns. The dogs barked frantically as he entered the house, waking both children.
“Here they are,” he announced as if he brandished an Olympic gold medal.
Zara yawned. “I’m not hungry anymore.”
“Me, neither,” Zoe added.
It probably wasn’t the most tactful thing to do, but K.O. smiled triumphantly.
“That’s okay. We can wait until later,” Wynn said, completely unfazed.
He really was good with the girls and seemed to enjoy spending time with them. While K.O. set the kitchen table and cleared away the clutter that had accumulated everywhere, Wynn sat down and talked to the twins. The girls showed him the Christmas tree and the stockings that hung over the fireplace and the nativity scene set up on the formal dining room table.
